CD Reviews

**PLEASANTLY SURPRISED**

chris | carson city, nevada | 05/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a big blues fan and have been experimenting with some harp recordings. This guy is great...alittle singing, alittle guitar, alittle harp and some real well written blues. I like the fact that he doesn't showboat by taking over with the harp solos. I will own every one of his recordings. "Blues fans will love it!""

Serious harmonica,serious blues.

Bete Noire | Vancouver, Canada | 02/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The late great California blues harmonica master shines brilliantly on this collection of tunes released by Alligator in 1992,showing that he was considered an original and an innovator during his lifetime for a very serious reason."

WILLIAM CLARKE...SERIOUS BLUESMAN!

G. J. Cook | new orleans louisiana usa | 12/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"CLARKE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BLUESHARP MEN. ON THIS CD CLARKE DISPLAYS HIS VERSATILITY ON THE HARP BY PLAYING IN BOTH OLDER (SONNY BOY, ETC.) AND CONTEMPORARY (HEAVY AMPED) STYLES. HE HAS A GREAT VOICE TOO. HIS UNIQUE SOUND IS FAT AND MUFFLED. HIS STYLE IS SIMPLE AND DIRECT TO THE POINT. HE REALLY SHINES ON SLOW BLUES. THIS IS NOT MY FAVORITE CD BY CLARKE, BUT IT DOES SHOW HIS VERSATILITY AS A HARPIST. CHECK IT OUT. JERSEY SLIM"

Classic Clarke

Bergman Jonas | Sweden | 05/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This, William Clarke's 2nd CD, proves yet again what a tremendous harmonica player and singer he was. Still today, his harp playing technique is so refined it is hard to decipher in great detail. In short, the technique pushes the standard blues songs to great heights and puts the the harmonica into the centre of events. Being a very soulful singer as well, this makes for a tour-de-force that belies the 10 years since its making. The songs, albeit being originals part from Work Song, carries on the Chicago tradition in full force. The Chromatic work is simply unmatched and stimulates all harp players to have a go at this rather complex instrument. I cannot pick out a single track that is stronger than the rest, all is good here and every time I play it I find myself tapping my feet and feeling that the blues is a true healer."